Preparations are underway for the annual Reclaim the Night march in Dubbo.
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Reclaim the Night is an international event protesting against sexual violence against women on the last Friday of October.
Figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research show there were 52 sexual assaults in Dubbo reported to police in the 12 months to March 2016.
There were also 77 cases of indecent assault.
The Reclaim the Night march will start from the Dubbo rotunda at 5.30 pm, head down Macquarie and Bultje streets and finish in Ollie Robbins Oval.
The event has been organised by Dubbo Community Services Certificate IV students, alongside Uniting and the domestic violence collective.
TAFE student Bob Hay said this year’s theme was ‘no means no in any language’ an important message for Dubbo’s multicultural community.
“Reclaim the Night started with women protesting against not being able to go outside at night,” Mr Hay said.
It was a response to the Yorkshire Ripper murders in England between 1975 and 1980 when women were told to stay inside. Women’s groups began the protest in response to being blamed for men’s sexual violence.
Following the march will be speeches on sexual violence, as well as activities, music and movies in the park.
“It’s a way of making the whole event more family friendly so everyone can get an idea of what’s happening,” Mr Hay said.
More information can is available on the Reclaim the Night Dubbo Facebook page, or by contacting reclaimthenight2016@gmail.com.